UNITED NATIONS – After two weeks of heated debate, liberal and conservative countries early Saturday approved a U.N. document to promote equality for women that reaffirms the sexual and reproductive rights of all women and endorses sex education for adolescents.
The 24-page final declaration approved by consensus early Saturday by the 45-member Commission on the Status of Women expresses deep concern the overall progress toward the U.N. goal of gender equality and empowerment of women remains “slow and uneven”
The commission said “the feminization of poverty persists” and reaffirmed that equality for women is essential for sustained economic development.
It called for equality, empowerment, and human rights for women to be a major plank in new U.N. development goals expected to be adopted next year.
For more progressive countries, there was relief there was no back-pedaling on international recognition of women’s reproductive and sexual rights and access to health services in the final document.
This should include “safe and effective methods of modern contraception, emergency contraception, prevention programs for adolescent pregnancy ... (and) safe abortion where such services are permitted by national law,” the document says.
Conservative countries did succeed in blocking any reference to different forms of the family or to problems women face because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The document recognizes the family as a contributor to the development of girls and women.
Among the countries expressing reservations about sex education after the document was approved were Qatar, Malta, the Holy See and Pakistan.
The commission also called for an end to early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation. Qatar asked for a definition of “early.”
